Team Sahlen adds Gidley for Watkins Glen

Gidley joins Team Sahlen in Mazda RX-8 for the Crown Royal 200 at the Glen

All around versatile driver Memo Gidley will be joining Team Sahlen at this weekend's Crown Royal 200 at the Glen in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16.

Memo has raced everything from BMX Bikes to Go-Karts to Daytona Prototypes to Open Wheel Indy Cars to Front Wheel Drive Sedans, and achieved success in every discipline. Gidley's versatility is not just limited to land, as his first form of racing was in small sailboats. And recently Memo has taken up the sport of Jet Ski racing with considerable success.

"I am very excited to get a chance to drive in the Mazda RX-8 and my first Rolex GT race. I have always had a huge amount of respect for the GT class racers. I know that the cars can be difficult to drive fast, the racing is very close, and all the while they have to contend with Daytona Prototypes blasting by...I'm sure that is a very challenging combination. I love a challenge and I'm really looking forward to this experience with the Sahlen Team. And although we don't know much of each other, I have always gotten a great feeling about Joe Sahlen and liked what I have seen and heard about the team. I'm also really looking forward to working with and learning about GT cars from the Nonnamakers. I can't wait for the weekend! -- states Memo Gidley

"I have been watching Memo race in the Daytona Prototype class for the past several years. He has shown great speed along with the ability to bring the car home in one piece. Our goal all year long has been to assist Mazda in winning the GT Class Manufacturer's Championship. And we hope that having Memo on board with us will give us that extra boost to get to the front of the GT field. Especially since Watkins Glen is Sahlen's home track." states Joe Sahlen

"We are thrilled to have Memo on board with us at Watkins Glen. Having come from a Go-Kart background, Memo has a very high reputation in the karting community. Everyone says that the RX-8s handle just like karts, so for Memo this should be an easy adaptation. " -- states Jay Chapman, Team Manager

Team Sahlen will be entering the #42 & #43 Mazda RX-8s for the event at Watkins Glen International. For the past 3 races, Team Sahlen has run in the Top 5 in the later stages of the race. "Team Sahlen has been working to capitalize upon this continued pattern of increased competitiveness into race results at end of the event. Everyone on the team is putting in extra hours to achieve the quest of a top 3 finish at the Glen. " -- states Will Nonnamaker

The Crown Royal 200 at Watkins Glen International will take the green flag on Saturday August 7th at 6 pm.

-source: team sahlen